"This is clearly a time of grief for the Harris family, magnified by the physical and emotional demands of being part of this week's highly complex and ultimately successful rescue operation," Dr Pearce said.

"He will be coming home soon and taking some well-earned time off to be with his family. "He has asked that the family's privacy is respected at this time."

The Australian team in Thailand also included Dr Harris's West Australian dive partner, six Australian Federal Police divers, a Navy clearance diver and members of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Crisis Rescue Team.

They echoed Dr Harris's praise for the children during a press conference on Wednesday.

"I think that the children who went through this ordeal in the cave were heroes in their own right, and the Thai SEALs themselves went above and beyond — I would class them as heroes," Major Alex Rubin from the Australian Defence Force said.

Major Rubin also gave a first-hand account of the experience working with Dr Harris.

"He is an extremely humble man given the amount of pressure that was placed on him," Major Rubin said.

The Australian Federal Australian police said the scale and risk of the operation was "unprecedented" as rescuers moved approximately 20 tonnes of equipment including oxygen tanks, pumps and food through the cave system.

Holiday turned into mercy mission

He responded to the call for help from Thai authorities when he was named specifically by the British diving team leading the mission as the best person for the job, with his medical skills and 30 years' diving experience.

"All the team at SA Ambulance Service is incredibly proud of Dr Harris. It has been a tumultuous week with highs and lows," Dr Pearce said.

"We are delighted that Harry and the boys are safe and that he was able to play such a remarkable role in the Australian response.

"Harry is a quiet and kind man who did not think twice about offering his support on this mission."

Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop said it took an incredible team effort to rescue the boys, with Dr Harris playing a key role.

"He was an integral part of the rescue attempt," she told the ABC. "He is internationally renowned for his expertise in cave rescues.

Ms Bishop said all the Australians involved would be in line for formal recognition of their actions.

Harris decided what order the trapped boys should leave the cave

Dr Harris assessed the health of the boys and their coach, determining who needed to get out of the cave quickest and who could wait longer.

Australian Medical Association (AMA) President Dr Tony Bartone said Dr Harris put his own safety on the line to help others and should be commended.

"Dr Harris's efforts here are nothing short of absolutely exceptional and beyond and above the call of duty, but that's typical of many of the doctors that make up the medical profession in Australia," he said.

The AMA tweeted that Dr Harris was "an amazing doctor and human being".

Bill Griggs, who used to be Dr Harris's boss at South Australia's emergency medical retrieval service, MedSTAR, where the anaesthetist still works, said it was his rare skillset that made Thai authorities seek him out.

"To do cave-diving, you have to be all about attention to detail and you have to be meticulous," Dr Griggs told the ABC.

"The combination of his medical knowledge and his cave-diving skills was clearly [why] the British guys requested that he come as well."

Dr Griggs said it was likely Dr Harris would be a reluctant hero over his role in the successful rescues.

"I suspect Harry will feel much the same as others, and I, have felt," he said.

"When you've been a part of a team, you really feel at little bit embarrassed, or sheepish, about [the accolades] because it is a big team effort."